Muniman

Crennel meets old friend Belichick
Browns coach says he learned a few things from Patriots coach, and vice versa

By Marla Ridenour Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Friday, Oct 05, 2007

BEREA: When Romeo Crennel was asked what he learned from Bill Belichick, he appropriately gave an X's-and-O's answer.

When it came to what Belichick might have learned from him, Crennel jokingly changed to P's and R's.

''I think that (public relations) might have been one thing that he learned,'' Crennel chuckled. ''I'm not sure.''

No one will mistake the kind-hearted, often-smiling Crennel for the all-business, grim-faced Belichick. Crennel is always cooperative with the media, which can't be said of Belichick. Amazingly, they are only five years apart in age; Belichick is 55, Crennel 60.

As New England's Belichick and Cleveland's Crennel meet for the first time Sunday as opposing coaches, they will renew a friendship that has lasted longer than many marriages.

Starting in 1981, the two spent 18 years together 14 as assistants with the New York Giants, the Patriots and the New York Jets. Then in 2001, Patriots coach Belichick hired Crennel away from Cleveland to be his defensive coordinator, a partnership that brought them three Super Bowl titles in four years.

Picking his favorite memory of his time in New England was easy for Crennel.

''Super Bowl victories,'' he said.

The Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams after the 2001 season, the Carolina Panthers after the 2003 season and the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2004 campaign, all three triumphs coming by three points.

Crennel said he doesn't wear his Super Bowl rings, but if there's one he cherishes most, it is the first. The Patriots ran off nine consecutive victories on the way to the title.

''Nobody expected us to win that one,'' Crennel said. ''We were big-time underdogs. We had gotten on a roll and the team was going good. We were playing the 'Best Team on Turf.' But our guys hung together, played as a team and we were able to get that victory. That might have been the most satisfying.''

On a conference call, Belichick was complimentary of Crennel's skills, both on the field and off.

''He's got a good understanding and background of the game,'' Belichick said. ''He gets along with people. He's a great motivator. The players listen to him and he listens to the players. I think there's a good flow of information from the player to coach, within the staff and the defensive assistants. He's very team-oriented in his approach to the game and the way his players perform.''

Crennel also drew high praise from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

''I love Romeo,'' Brady said. ''He's a great coach. There's one thing I know, that he always had the respect of the players. Romeo would speak and everyone listened.

''When he coached here, it was a very mature defense. It was hard to come in when you have as many veterans as we had with their own personalities. But all those guys respected Romeo. He's smart, hardworking and he has a great presence. I always wish him the best of luck.''

Belichick also was impressed with the 2-2 Browns, who he said played their best game of the season last week in beating the Baltimore Ravens 27-13.

''He's taken a lot of young players and built it into a very strong and competitive team,'' Belichick said. ''They don't make many mistakes. They're executing very well on offense. The offensive line has been very impressive. They are very good on special teams. They're a field goal away from being 3-1.

''They get a little better each week. I think that's typical of a team with a lot of young players and a young quarterback that grows together and gains confidence, which I think they have a lot of. That comes from your head coach.''

Crennel listened to the recording of Belichick's call and got a laugh out of his tactics.

''Up there in New England I'm the coach of the year, we have the best defense in the NFL, they're going to have a hard time moving the ball,'' Crennel said. ''Sunday they'll be fired up.''

Some might suggest that being a defensive coordinator under Belichick merely would be a title, with Belichick doing the bulk of the work. Crennel said that was not the case.

''He let me do all of it,'' Crennel said. ''I installed the game plan. I decided who to play. I made all the calls.''

But Crennel was watching and listening to pick up everything he could from Belichick. Crennel didn't have a hard time remembering his best lesson.

''His ability to adjust during the course of a game,'' Crennel said. ''He doesn't necessarily always wait until halftime. He will make adjustments on the sideline. You see the benefit of being able to do that when you can.''

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at The Browns.

__________________
The key to winning is poise under stress -
Paul Brown

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